Depending on its severity, a burn injury can be a very serious condition. Those who suffer from a serious burn injury due to any catastrophic accident are likely to face grave consequences as they navigate through treatment and recovery. As such, it’s extremely important that these types of injuries are immediately treated by medical professionals. In case of an emergency, taking first aid measures to address the injury can make a huge difference for victims while waiting for first responders to arrive.

While first degree burns are superficial and affects only the top layer of the skin, it can still cause a lot of pain and swelling that could easily become uncomfortable. To remedy this type of burn, run the injured area under cool water or use a cold compress for 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure not to use or water that’s too cold, because the stark contrast in temperature might cause more damage to the skin. Next, apply an ample amount of aloe cream or burn ointment to the injured area. It can also help to cover it with a clean bandage or gauze pad.

The more serious second and third degree burns require careful attention during first aid scenarios. Second degree burns can be extremely painful; causing blisters to appear that might break open and make the injury to look raw and wet. Meanwhile, third degree burns are considered the most severe, causing the injured area to look white, brown, charred, leathery, dry, or waxy. Oftentimes, such injuries also cause nerve damage and will lead to the victim feeling numb or little to no pain. For both occasions, discomfort can be eased by removing the clothes and jewelry surrounding the area of the burn, running cool water to the site for about 3-5 minutes, and then keeping the injury sterilized with a clean bandage or piece of cloth.

Based on the 2013 fact sheet released by the American Burn Association, about 60 percent of medical hospitalization cases are related to some type of burn injury. Most of these injuries are caused by accidents that happen at home, in the workplace, and on the road during a vehicular crash. The personal injury lawyers at Sampson Law Firm also point that plenty of such accidents causing burn injuries happen due to reckless or negligent actions by another party. In this scenario, victims can seek out compensation that can help them pay for medical and treatment costs. Click here to learn more about what you can do if you’ve been burned in such a situation.

Dogs are beloved pets in millions of households all over America. They are considered “man’s best friend,” well-loved for their playful and friendly dispositions. However, some dogs end up attacking when they feel provoked or threatened. Unfortunately, such instances usually end with serious injuries.

The non-profit organization Dogs Bite estimates that about 1,000 people become victims of dog bites and will require medical attention ever year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the usual victims in these scenarios are children.

It’s not surprising that children are the typical victims of dog attacks. Children are curious about the world around them, and cute pets will often encourage this curiosity. Sometimes, a child’s attempt to play could be misconstrued by the dog as a threat. Keeping children supervised during such interactions is one of the most effective ways that dog bites can be prevented.

Never allow a child to approach a dog that is in the middle of eating, sleeping, or nursing her puppies. Similarly, prevent children from approaching a dog that’s already provoked or scared.

Prevent children from petting or approaching a dog that is off its leash, behind a fence, or inside a car. If they want to pet another person’s dog, tell them to ask the owner first.

Teach children about a dog’s body language. When a dog is scared, it will flatten its ears, hunch its back, and tuck its tail between the hind legs. When threatened, a dog will pull its ears back, wrinkle its muzzle, show its teeth, and growl.

Parents can keep their children safe from dog bites through proper supervision and education. However, such efforts won’t be enough to significantly reduce the number of reported dog bite injuries all over the country. As emphasized by the website of N. Craig Richardson, negligent pet owners can put the people around them at risk. Dog owners should be responsible for keeping their pets trained and well-behaved.

The Aviation Safety Network and other transportation authorities agree that air travel is fastest and safest way of long-distance travel today. Thousands of planes take off from, and land in, US airports every day, despite this huge number the number of accidents do not even equal half the number of fingers in one hand.

Even if the number of fatalities is to be considered, air travel registers only about 138 fatalities every year compared to the more than 35,000 and more than 3,100 fatal car and motorcycle accidents, respectively, that are recorded by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), a branch of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The high safety rate in the air travel industry can only be the result of the lessons learned from past tragic accidents, the catalyst that spurred aviation authorities to continue in the improvement of airplane parts and devices that will keep passengers much safer from the moment they board until the time they get off the plane.

Some of the major improvements in the aviation industry include: upgrade in the air traffic control(ATC) system; strengthening of teamwork among the flight personnel and eradication of the concept that the “captain is god”; installation of downdraft detection and lavatory smoke sensors; use of transponders; installation of TCAS II collision-avoidance system; upgrading of the rudder Rx; installation of smoke detectors and automatic fire extinguishers in the cargo hold of all commercial airline; setting up or equipment and devices that will help eliminate the likelihood of electrical spark; and, the replacement of the Mylar insulation with fire-resistant materials.

Any improvement or upgrade, however, will prove useless unless flight procedures are strictly observed, maintenance of aircraft is regularly done, fuel is replenished, and the pilot is always in perfect health, is mindful of his responsibilities and is never under the influence of alcohol or drug.

While there have been times when mistakes that lead to accidents were traced to pilot error, there have also been instances when the fault actually sprung from top management’s negligent acts, according to the website of Pohl & Berk, LLP.

Whenever an accident occurs courts always recognize the suffering and injuries suffered by victims and so grant them the legal right to receive compensation from the liable party. Many civil cases, however, get settled even before these are filed in court as liable parties consider out-of-court settlements much less expensive that if the judge were to rule against them. And, often, in these settlements, victims are seen accepting (sometimes) financial offers from liable parties, some even thinking that the amount is quite big enough. An aviation accident lawyer, however, who knows how much compensation victims are really allowed to receive, also knows that settlement payments are usually far lower than what victims can legally claim from the liable party. Thus, being represented by a highly-qualified lawyer will always be in the best interest of the victim.

One of the more complicated elements in a divorce is child custody. As pointed out on the website of the Marshall Taylor Law Firm, both parents would generally want to sustain a meaningful relationship with their children, an endeavor to be given custody of them after a divorce. Obviously, it would not be physically possible to have two parents have their children all the time so a compromise is often reached where one parent has physical custody (to whom depends on the circumstances) and the other parent has prescribed visitation rights.

The judge is the final authority on who gets what in child custody cases, and in general this is decided on what the statutes say and past experience has determined to be most beneficial for the children. In North Carolina, for instance, the statute (N.C.G.S.A. § 50-13.2(a)) emphasizes the “will best promote the interest and welfare of the child.” The statute does not specify all the factors that may impugn on the ruling, but it does provide some guidance when it comes to issues involving domestic violence, the ability of the parent to provide a child with a stable home environment, and the child’s extant living arrangements. The law does not favor one gender over another for child custody.

Because of the way the statute is worded, it provides a lot of leeway for the judge to decide just what that would entail. This can both be a good thing and a bad thing when one considers that judges are humans and apt to be influenced by their own personal life experiences and preferences. For example, there is an interesting Harvard University study that suggests judges who have daughters are more likely to award physical custody of children to the female parent.

When considering divorce, you need to make sure that your child’s best interests are safeguarded despite any biases that the judge may entertain. An experienced and persuasive divorce lawyer would be an invaluable ally in this endeavor.

The case of Ralph P. North v. National Grid Generation LLC., et al. brought before the New York State Supreme Court is a good example of when a contractor may claim against a client for personal injuries. North worked as a contractor on the construction site of the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) power station in Long island between 1966 and 1972. North found out about his mesothelioma from asbestos exposure while working on the LILCO site many years after, and sued its successor National Grid Generation LLC (National Grid) for past and future pain and suffering.

North claimed that asbestos was routinely used in the cement mix, boilers and pipes, and that his exposure was primarily from the asbestos dust resulting from preparing and using the toxic mineral on the site. He further claimed that at the time, he was not aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure. National Grid contended that because North was a contactor and not an employee, they had no control over how the contractor performed their work. The attorney for the plaintiff argued that since the defendant provided precise instructions over the use of asbestos in the construction, the defendant exercised significant control over the contractor’s work.

The lawsuit proceeded to trial, and on September 29, 2014, the jury agreed with the plaintiff that he should be compensation, and proceeded to award him $7 million for past and future pain and suffering, considered the largest given in New York state for a personal injury case. National Grid is expected to appeal the verdict.

This is illustrative of the fact that if the lawyer knew the relevant federal and specific state laws pertaining to a case concerning asbestos exposure, and how the rights of the plaintiff can be protected. If you have suffered serious harm because of exposure to asbestos or other harmful substances, consult with a toxic tort lawyer if you have a viable case.

Child custody is always a sensitive issue in a divorce. Often, the judge will award physical custody to one parent and visitation rights to the other based on circumstances that will serve the best interest of the child. In general, however, divorce law provides ample opportunity for the child to have significant contact with both parents as much as possible to foster a healthier parent-child relationship.

However, California courts typically allow the parent who has sole custody of child to relocate outside the state unless the non-custodial parent can show that the move will cause considerable harm to the child. Exactly what constitutes harm to a child will depend on the circumstances, but the non-custodial parent has the burden of proof.

But if the parents have joint custody of the child, the burden of proof shifts to the parent who plans to move away if the staying parent objects to the move. The parent who is relocating must show that it is in the best interests of the child to do so.

The judge will determine the wisdom of allowing the custodial arrangement to be modified to accommodate relocation based on the actual time spent by the child with the staying parent rather than the parenting plan made at the time of the divorce. Each case is unique and requires careful study and consideration before the judge can make ruling.

Each state has its own take on how to handle move-away issues. A Manhattan Beach divorce lawyer can prepare and present a case for or against relocation in California that can significantly influence the final decision of the judge. It is essential that the lawyer who handles such a case is experienced in dealing with move-away custody issues in California to obtain the desired results, always in the best interests of the child.

The human body is a delicate balance of systems, and this includes hormones. Under ideal circumstances, the naturally-occurring hormones are in perfect sync, and everything is just dandy. However, many factors can upset the hormonal balance including stress, poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and age. When the effects of this hormone imbalance significantly impacts on the quality of life, it is desirable to restore the balance.

In some instances, it can be easily done by removing or minimizing the cause of stress, having regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, or any combination of these. There is little that can be done with aging, but with a healthy lifestyle the hormone effects of aging is usually manageable without therapy. However, there are conditions such as low testosterone (Low-T) in men which results in low sexual drive, diminished sexual interest, and erectile dysfunction that is much more than a result of aging. One method for restoring hormonal balance in men suffering from Low-T is through hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

While HRT can do the job, there are side effects. These are especially enhanced when conditions such as Low-T is misdiagnosed; some men naturally produce testosterone in lower levels as they age, but this does not necessarily the medical condition known as Low-T. Low-T topical medication manufacturers, however, aggressively market their products, implying that the normal slow down of testosterone production is a medical problem and that it can be easily and safely fixed. They neglect to warn about the medical dangers of the misuse of the product with patients that don’t actually have Low-T, such as increasing the risk of stroke and heart disease. Low-T lawyers will properly investigate drug makers that propagate this misrepresentation and failure to warn for product liability.

Physicians may also face medical malpractice lawsuits for failing to properly diagnose Low-T. There are practices that encourage the use of Low-T preparations even when it is unwarranted because it is profitable to do so. This is a breach of a health professional’s duty of care to a patient. As pointed out on the website of medical malpractice law firm Crowe & Mulvey, LLP, this negligence can have disastrous consequences for the patient.